A restaurant manager has been jailed for raping a teenage girl and sexually assaulting another.

Shibbir Ahmed, 58, of Coronation Avenue, had given the first victim alcohol and attacked her when she fell asleep.

She was 16 at the time of the attack, which happened sometime between July 2007 and July 2008.

Ahmed, of Coronation Avenue, Colchester, sexually assaulted the second victim, who was 18, in July 2016.

Ahmed was arrested in October 2016 and following an investigation he was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault.

He denied the charges and stood trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He was found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault yesterday. He was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault.

He was sentenced today for a total of seven and a half years and made subject of a ten year sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after the hearing, Dc Tracey Scorah, investigating officer, said: “I would like to thank the victims, who have shown great strength and courage in coming forward and have supported our investigation all the way through to the conclusion of the court process.

“Ahmed denied his guilt, forcing them to give evidence in court while standing in front of the predatory individual who had abused them both.